Sling strap connecting device



Dec. 21, 1937. Q E MOSSBERG 2,102,964

SLING STRAP CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Sept 5, 1956 INVENTOR 3 @m-ar FMasha-1g.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,102,964 SLING STRAPCONNECTING DEVICE Oscar F. Mcssberg, New Haven, Conn, assignor to 0. F.Mossberg and Sons, Inc., New Haven, Conn, a corporation of ConnecticutApplication September 3, 1936, Serial No. 99,251

10 Claims.

This invention relates to sling strap connecting devices and moreparticularly to improvements in sling strap swivels and in the means toconnect the same to a gun or the like article. Sling straps for guns aregenerally used for carrying them hung across the back of and from,

the users shoulder, and for steadying the gun during its use inshooting. The ends of these by swivels, being disother disposedintermediate this end and the muzzle end of the gun.

It is desirable that provision be made to shorten the distance betweenthese points, preferably by moving the intermediate connectionrearwardly toward the butt end, to compensate for differences in statureof diiierent users so that the gun will be comfortably and properlypositioned and balanced while being so carried. It is also desirable,

when the gun is to be used for shooting to be able to quickly andreadily change the degree of looseness of the strap. Due to the presentform of necting devices this strap conrequires the lengthening of thestrap between its holding swivels by unbuckling its ends and adjustingits length to suit, which is inconvenient and time consuming. One of theprincipal objects of this invention is to provide means to adjustablyconnect a sling strap to a gun or the like, whereby desired changes inlength and degree of looseness of the strap between the points of itsconnection with the gun, may be quickly and readily made.

Another object is to provide mean tively position and connect one of thes to selecsling strap swivels to the gun or like article in any one of aplurality of positions to obtain the above mentioned desiderata.

Still another object is to provide means to detachably connect a slingstrap swivel ber connectable to a to a memgun part and which may includemeans to releasably lock the same to said member.

A further object is to provide means in'the gun or like part of theswivel in to locate the swivel in operable posito the gun, and toreleasably lock this invention to prof generally device will be simple,durable and inexpensive in construetion, as well as convenient,practical, and eflicient in its use.

serviceable With the foregoing and other objects in view, which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of constructionhereinafter described and claimed. 5

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which like reference characters indicatesimilar parts, and wherein;

Figure 1 is a side view strap secured thereto by a device embodyingfeatures and principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of a portion of the gun and theother parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View on line i-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view somewhat similar to Figure 3,taken through a sling strap swivel, and showing by the use of dottedlines the operation and position of the several parts thereof whenremoving it from the gun;

Figure '7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line 8 -3 of Figure 2, and 30Figure 9 is a detail view of a spring part of the device.

The arrangement and structure of the parts whereby the device of thisinvention may be quickly and readily connected to a gun or like articleto obtain the advantages and results contemplated and particularlywhereby one of the sling strap swivels It! or I I may be selectivelypositioned in any one of a plurality of positions, disposed lengthwiseof the gun l2, comprises a 40 bar or plate 13 securable to the gun 12 bymeans of screws l4 and co-operating means between the plate l3 and oneof the strap swivels, in this instance, swivel Ill. The plate I3 ispreferably disposed, as herein shown, in a recess l5 formed 45 in andadjacent to one end of the gun stock IS. A bracket l1 secured adjacentthe other end of the gun stock 5 by screws I8, is provided to which theswivel Il may be releasably secured by similar co-operating meansbetween this bracket and the swivel H. V

The co-operating means between the swivels l0 and H and the plate l3 andbracket l1 respectively, comprises a tongue IS on one, herein shown onthe swivels, and a slot 20 in the other, herein of a gun having a slingthe shown, one slot in the bracket i1, and a plurality of slots, spacedapart lengthwise of the gun, in plate I3. Each of the slots 20 is formedwith a central circular opening 2| with extensions 22 at both sidesthereof which are narrower in dimension than the diameter of the opening2|. The tongues l9 are elongated to easily pass through the slots 20,when disposed in alignment therewith, and be disposed beneath the plateI 3. When so disposed the tongues iii are turned, by rotation of therespective swivel, at right angles to their aligned position with theslots 28, whereby the ends thereof overlap the plate i3 at each side ofthe central opening 2|, thereby preventing removal of the tongues fromthe plate. A counterbore 23 is formed in the gun stock It, concentric toeach of the spaced apart openings 2| in the plate l3, to permit theturning of the tongue l9 and the bracket II is struck outwardly, as at24, for the same purpose.

The tongue I9, of each swivel in, II, is spaced from a cylindrical bodyportion 25 of each, an amount substantially equal to the thickness ofthe plate l3, or bracket l1, and is connected thereto by a cylindricalneck 25. The diameter of the neck 26 is slightly less than the diameterof the opening 2|, to permit its insertion and rotation therein. By thisarrangement the neck 26 forms centralizing means for the tongue 59 inrespect to the slot 23, and a trunnion, fitting the opening 2| whichacts as a bearing for the respective swivel. An elongated loop or bail21, having its spaced apart ends 28 and 29 opposed and inserted in asuitable transverse bore 33 provided in the body portion 25, isprovided, to support the sling strap 3| in the usual manner.

In order to releasably lock the swivels l3 and I! with the tongue l9thereof disposed crosswise of the slot 20 of the plate l3 or the bracketl7, and to secure to, and centralize the bail 21 with, the body portion25 of the respective swivel, a resilient member 32 is provided, which isdisposed in an axially directed groove 33 formed in the body 25. Thegroove 33 extends lengthwise through the body 25 at one side thereof andis adapted to be disposed in communication with one of the slotextensions 22 when the respective swivel is in its assembled position,with the plate E3 or bracket H, as shown in Figure 6. The resilientmember 32 is herein shown formed of a flat spring metal strip extendingfrom one side and at the top of the body 25, across the same to theother side, and. is then bent as at 34, and extends downwardly andtoward the first side adjacent the bottom of the body 25. Adjacent thebottom of the body 25, the member 32 is bent to form a loop 35, and isthen extended upwardly and outwardly beyond the first side of the body25, and has its end formed into a finger engaging circular loop 36.

The end 31 of the resilient member 32, adjacent the top of the body 25,is provided with transversely extending ears 38 and 39 which aredisposed in an annular groove 43 formed in the periphery of the body 25,closely adjacent its top surface. The material of the body 25 is crimpedtightly down upon the ears 38 and 39, disposed in the groove 46, toclose the groove and clamp the ears therein. The portion 8| of themember 32, which extends downwardly and toward the first side of thebody 25, crosses the bore 33 and is thereby disposed between the opposedspaced apart ends 28 and 29 of the bail 2?, preventing its transversemovement in respect to the body 25. The looped portion 35 of the member32 is adapted to snap into the slot extension 22, to locate, and toindicate that, the tongue I9 is disposed crosswise of the slot 20 inposition to hold the swivel to the plate |3 or bracket 1, and toreleasably lock the respective swivel in its operative position andagainst being turned in respect to the plate or bracket. By pressingupwardly upon the finger loop 36, the loop 35 may be removed from theslot extension 22 and the swivel may be turned to align the tongue I9with the slot 20, whereby the swivel may be removed from its supportingmember, herein constituted by the plate l3 or bracket IT, as shown indotted lines in Figure 6.

In using the device of this invention in association with a gun, thesling strap swivel is connected to the bracket l1, previously secured tothe stock 6 by screws l8, as above described. The length of the strapdesired is determined and the swivel I is connected to the plate l3,previously secured to the stock l6 by screws M, by inserting its tonguel9 into the desired one of the spaced apart slots 2!). Whenever it isdesired to alter the degree of looseness of the strap or to shorten itseffective length to permit the gun to be more comfortably positioned orbalanced and efficiently used, the swivel I0 may be quickly releasedfrom the plate i3 and be disposed in the desired position relatively tothe gun by inserting its tongue I9 selectively into any one of the slots20, wherein it will be locked by the spring or resilient member 32 afterit has been turned crosswise of the slot by rotation of the swivel. Theprovision of the member 32 in a device of this nature by which the slingstrap swivels may be located and securely locked to their respectivesupporting or gun connecting members, and which also serves as a bailposition retaining element, simplifies the manufacture of such a deviceand reduces the initial cost thereof, while retaining its eificiency anddurability.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and itwill be further understood that each and every novel feature andcombination thereof present in, or possessed by, the device hereindisclosed, forms a part of the invention included in this application.

What is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure LettersPatent, is:

1. In a sling strap connecting device, a sling strap swivel having abody portion, a strap supporting bail having its ends spaced apart inopposed relation within said body portion, said body portion having atongue adapted to enter an opening in a gun part, and common meansextending across the body portion between the spaced apart bail ends toreleasably retain said tongue in the opening in the gun part and toprevent transverse movement of said bail relatively to said bodyportion.

2. In a sling strap connecting device, a sling strap swivel having abody portion, a strap supporting bail having its ends spaced apart inopposed relation within said body, said body having a tongue adapted tobe inserted in an opening in a gun part and be turned into a lockedposition therein by rotation of said swivel, and common means to enterthe opening in a gun part when said tongue is in locked positiontherein, to releasably retain said swivel against rotation, andextending across the body portion between the -spaced apart bail ends toprevent transverse movement thereof in respect to said body portion.

3. In a sling strap connecting device, a swivel part having an elongatedtongue adapted to pass through an elongated opening in a plate and berotated to dispose it across the opening to lock said swivel to saidplate, said swivel part having a slot provided therein adapted tocommunicate with the opening in said plate when said tongue is in lockedposition, and a catch secured to said swivel part and disposed in saidslot therein and adapted to enter the opening in said plate andreleasably lock said swivel against rotation.

4. In a sling strap connecting device, a swivel part having an elongatedtongue adapted to pass through an elongated opening in a plate and berotated to dispose it across the opening to lock said swivel to saidplate, said swivel part having a slot provided therein adapted tocommunicate with the opening in said plate when said tongue is in lockedposition, a bail having its opposed ends disposed in said swivel partand terminating at the slot therein, and a catch member secured to saidswivel part and being disposed in the slot therein and between theopposed ends of said bail, said catch being adapted to enter the openingin said plate and releasably lock said swivel against rotation.

5. In a device for connecting a sling strap to an article to be carriedthereby, a swivel part having a tongue adapted to enter an opening in apart of said article and be rotated into a locked position, said swivelhaving a slot adapted to be positioned in alignment with the opening insaid part of the article when the swivel is disposed in locked position,a strap holding bail having its ends opposed and terminating at oppositesides of the slot in said swivel, and a spring catch member disposed inthe slot and extending across between the opposed bail ends, said catchmember being adapted to enter the opening in said article part toreleasably lock said tongue in locked position.

6. In a sling strap swivel, a tongue adapted to enter an opening in asupporting member and be rotated into a locked position, a strap holdingbail having its ends spaced apart into opposed relation, and a springcatch extending between and across the opposed ends of said bail andbeing adapted to enter the opening in said supporting member torotatively lock the tongue in respect thereto.

7. Means to lock a sling strap swivel having an axially directed slottherein and a depending portion to a supporting member having an openingtherein to receive the depending portion of said swivel, and tocentralize a bail to said swivel including a spring catch disposed inthe slot in said swivel and extending between opposed spaced apart endsof the bail, said catch having a portion adapted to snap into theopening in said supporting member to prevent relative rotation betweensaid member and said swivel.

8. In a sling strap swivel, a body portion having means to connect it toa supporting member, a bail to hold a strap and having its ends enteringsaid body portion from opposite sides and being spaced apart within saidbody portion, and a spring catch adapted to prevent relative rotationbetween said swivel and said member and being disposed between thespaced apart bail ends to prevent lengthwise movement of the same insaid body portion.

9. In a sling strap connecting device, a sling strap swivel having atongue adapted to pass through an elongated opening in a gun part and berotated into a locked position crosswise of said opening, and resilientcatch means carried by and rotatable with said swivel to be aligned withthe opening in the gun part when the swivel is rotated into lockedposition and to snap into the aforesaid opening in the gun part when sopositioned to lock the swivel against rotation, and a part on said catchmeans extending from said swivel to be engaged to remove said catchmeans from the aforesaid opening in the gun part and release said swivelfrom its locking action.

10. In a sling strap swivel, a body portion having means to connect itto a supporting member, a bail to hold a strap and having its endsentering said body portion from opposite sides and being spaced apartwithin said body portion, and a resilient member within said bodyportion, said member having a first part disposed between the spacedapart ends of said bail to prevent lengthwise movement of the bail insaid body portion, said resilient member having a second part extendingout of said body portion, operably connected to said first part to moveit out of its position between the ends of said bail.

OSCAR F. MOSSBERG.

